Even the most secular Democrats fervently await the Second Coming. Of John Kennedy, that is.

Barack Obama is the latest in a long line of latter-day JFKs. There were Bobby and Teddy, of course. Also, Gene McCarthy, George McGovern, even Jimmy Carter, Gary Hart, Joe Biden (1988 model), Bill Clinton and John Kerry (who had the right initials, but nothing else).

Obama wakes up the echoes. It’s the stirring oratory, to start with. Catch the “Yes We Can” video. And Obama has something of JFK’s cool, ironic distance. Like his odd habit of applauding the audience applauding him.

But it’s more than style. Obama is generating real excitement.

Democrats are of two minds about him:

• We’ve seen this movie before. We’ve fallen in love before. And nominated a candidate so unelectable we got creamed.

• This time is different. We can’t let history pass us by.

I’ve been surprised by older (that is, older than me), white Democrats who like Obama. One even canvassed for him in New Hampshire and South Carolina last month.

These vets feel the mystic chords of memory from 1960. And they identify with young people who feel the same way today.

This will be the story to watch in North Carolina now. Does the party establishment stick with Clinton – or take a chance on something new?

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